Former Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards commented to CNN Tuesday about the criticism of comedian Michelle Wolf’s joke about abortion at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday. She said the topic wasn’t something that she personally would joke about but that Wolf was “doing her job” as a comedian.
Michelle Wolf did not get many laughs when she mocked the vice president’s views on abortion and made a joke about the procedure.
"Mike Pence is also very anti-choice -- he thinks abortion is murder,” she said. “Which, first of all, don't knock it 'til you try it. And when you do try it, really knock it -- you got to get that baby out of there."
"I know a lot of you are very anti-abortion unless it's the one you got for your secret mistress," she added.
Richards listened to the joke without smiling and then toldCNN’s Alisyn Camerota, “This isn’t a topic that I make jokes about because, of course, I see what women face in this country just to access care and how much stigma and shame there already is in America.”
Richards said that since Wolf was a comedian “that was her job.”
"I think she was also making the point that a lot of the folks,” she said, “male politicians in particular, who rail against access to safe and legal abortion do so until it's something that they actually find benefits themselves."
Wolf's joke was heavily criticized by pro-life advocates following the dinner.
Our message to so-called comedian Michelle Wolf: Some topics can't be abused for humor. abortion is one of them. You profoundly hurt women who regret their abortion experience. #whcd
— Susan B Anthony List (@SBAList) April 29, 2018
#WHCD is for an elite free press corp serving our nation.
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) April 30, 2018
On stage, @michelleisawolf celebrated & mocked the deaths of babies torn apart by abortions.
How supremely grotesque. Making the killing of babies fodder for our entertainment. Lord have mercy. https://t.co/Vb8SZsDpZS
Sickened to hear the kind of “jokes” coming out of the #WHCD last night. The killing of an innocent baby is a tragedy, not a punchline. #ProLife https://t.co/g5f82IEK9x
— Diane Black (@DianeBlackTN) April 29, 2018
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